| Team building is key to businesses in delivering | | | | resource with the skills required. |
| profitability and customer satisfaction. Strange as | | | | If key resources are missing and this can |
| you may think, I believe it is also key to | | | | negatively affect the end results, escalate this |
| employee satisfaction. | | | | matter in writing or via email to the project |
| A team is made up of a number of people | | | | sponsor. Make sure that you also articulate the |
| charged withdoing a specific piece of work. The | | | | extent to which you have tried to work within |
| team is put together primarily based on the skills | | | | the constraints. |
| required as defined for the project. In the fast | | | | Coming back to your team. Apply team building |
| moving environment that we live in, the extent to | | | | strategy to get your team to work together |
| which team members can work together is hardly | | | | effectively. Involve them in planning and how to |
| given any consideration. It also does not seem | | | | handle the shortcomings. You will be amazed at |
| practical anyway. | | | | the extent people will help you when you involve |
| So how is team building done under such | | | | them in problem solving. You see, the technique is |
| circumstances? Of course, it is possible to just | | | | in involving people. When you do, they take |
| drive the team to work towards the desired end | | | | ownership. |
| result. But, this is where the results will show a | | | | Next is the action plan. Again, planning together is |
| difference. | | | | a great team building activity. Frankly, I don't think |
| A team that works well together can produce | | | | any single person knows that much and can think |
| better results as opposed to individuals who try | | | | through various possibilities to come up with a real |
| to outshine each other. The team leader plays a | | | | good plan. Team building aside, the team |
| significant role in managing the team and team | | | | members probably know a thing or two that the |
| building becomes an integral part of the daily | | | | team leader might not be aware of. |
| managing of the team. | | | | So, this is real good! Because you get |
| There are a few structural items that must taken | | | | 1. more content during the planning session |
| into consideration first. These are items that | | | | 2. the team members involved and taking |
| project managers will be familiar with. Common | | | | ownership |
| sense but maybe not common practice. | | | | 3. the plan done. |
| First, the structure of the team, the number of | | | | Remember, however, that the person who |
| people and the skills required must be defined as | | | | facilitates the meeting must be able to bring the |
| best as possible. I say as best as possible | | | | best out of the team. |
| because things are changing so fast that unless | | | | Document the outcome of the session. Confirm |
| you are repeating exactly the same thing every | | | | the actions assigned, responsibilities and |
| time, it is difficult to be very precise. Most people | | | | deliverables. |
| will factor in some buffer in their plan to cater for | | | | I cannot stress enough the significant role that |
| this. | | | | the team leader plays. At this point, the team |
| Second, match the roles and skills required. | | | | leader should sit with each of the team members |
| Third, get a group of people who can work | | | | to discuss their responsibilities and more |
| together. | | | | importantly to get feedback from them. |
| You will be extremely lucky if you managed to | | | | At this point, I can hear some of you saying |
| get all these. Chances are you will not get all of it. | | | | "Where do I get time for all this? I have real |
| But that is the typical reality. | | | | work to do". You can either spend extra time |
| So, first thing is to accept what you cannot | | | | now or you may end up spending it later when |
| change. Believe me! This step makes a big | | | | things do not work so well. |
| difference because you stop using any energy in | | | | Another tip! Not on team building, but on time |
| fighting for additional resources and looking at | | | | management. Fit all these one-on-one sessions as |
| innovative ways for bridging the gaps. | | | | appointments in your calendar and just get them |
| I believe the first thing in team building at this | | | | done. Treat them as any other appointment. |
| point is to state clearly the objectives that the | | | | These sessions may prove more useful then |
| team needs to achieve. I have seen time and | | | | some of the meetings that you attend. |
| again how teams can be brought together if their | | | | I have found that I spend my time most |
| deliverables are clear to them. | | | | productively when I am busiest. Is that true for |
| Next is to state the roles and responsibilities | | | | you? Why don't you try it out? |
| clearly to all the team members. And their | | | | If your team is very big, then probably there will |
| deliverables. This clarity makes it very easy to | | | | be groups within the team. In this case, the team |
| know when an action has been completed. Look | | | | leader may want to meet only with the group |
| for the deliverables! | | | | leaders. As part of team building though, each of |
| So far, it has all been clinical. Typical project | | | | the group leaders should also meet with their |
| management stuff. | | | | group members. |
| Well! Guess what? More clinical stuff. But it pays. | | | | Team building is a big topic. This article on team |
| First, check out the actual number of people | | | | building covers only the initial start off when |
| against plan. Then, check whether they have the | | | | getting a team together. I hope that you are able |
| right skills. | | | | to use it as a solid start in putting a team |
| Once you know where the resource issues are, | | | | together and getting them to synergistically |
| put together a plan. This could be training, | | | | deliver the results. |
| mentoring or continuing to source another | | | | |